Villagers in UP pray for success of 'Smile Pinky' at Oscars

Dabai (UP), Feb 22 (ANI): Residents of Dabai village in Uttar Pradesh's Ahura District have been praying for the success of the documentary 'Smile Pinky' at the Oscars, since it is based on the life of a girl with a lip deformity in their village.

"Pinky has gone to America. The documentary has got a nomination for the Oscars.

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We are praying to God that this film wins an award and brings glory to our country and our village," said Pradeep Kumar, a villager.

'Smile Pinky' is the story of a child with a lip deformity. It is one of the four films nominated for best short documentary at the famed Academy Awards to be declared at Los Angels.

Megan Mylan's film depicts the saga of six-year-old Pinky who becomes a social outcast because of a cleft lip.

In the 39-minute documentary, the girl from this obscure village of Uttar Pradesh, undergoes corrective surgery and gets a normal childhood.

"Earlier, she had a lip deformity and all her schoolmates used to tease her. After she got operated and got rid of her lip deformity, she started going to school again. Now, none teases her any more," said Nirmala Devi, Pinky's mother.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, who treated Pinky at no cost, said that the film's Academy Award nomination would help create awareness about the condition of children in rural areas. (ANI)